Delhi cop on shooting spree kills two, self (Lead)

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) A Delhi Police constable went on a shooting spree and killed two people, including his brother-in-law, and then himself with his official weapon here, police said Thursday. This was the second firing incident in the city this month.

Constable Vijay, 24, gunned down his late sister’s husband Manoj, 36, and mother-in-law Prakashwati alias Prakashi Devi, 62, in north Delhi’s Bakhtawarpur village Wednesday night and then shot himself near the double-murder spot, police said.

Manoj was hit by five bullets, Prakashwati two and Vijay himself took one shot, a police officer said.

Vijay was allegedly upset with Manoj and Prakashwati as his sister had committed suicide in 2003, within an year of her marriage. He was also involved with the other victims in a litigation.

“It seems that Vijay took the step over a grudge linked to his sister’s death,” said a police officer.

“The first police call was received around 9.40 p.m. Wednesday from Bakhtawarpur village, from where Manoj and his mother Prakashwati’s body was recovered. Just two hours after the first incident, police received another call informing them about detection of Vijay’s body. Police recovered Vijay’s service gun from his possession,” said the officer.

Police said a few minutes before the shooting spree by Vijay, a man had come to Prakashwati’s house to meet Manoj.

While she was taking the visitor to their second house in the vicinity to meet Manoj, he left her saying he would return in a short while, police said.

“Later, both Manoj and Prakashwati were found shot dead in the courtyard of their second house. Vijay was found dead near the Alipur police station,” said the officer.

Vijay, a Haryana resident, joined the police force in 2010 and was working with the security wing in south Delhi’s Lodhi Estate area. He was involved in a litigation with Manoj and his mother over his sister’s death.

“In that case, Manoj and Prakashwati were sent to jail. Vijay was not happy with the court’s decision because Manoj came out from jail in a short time. He filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court seeking severe punishment for Manoj, who himself filed a separate plea to prove his innocence,” said the officer.

Manoj remarried in 2007 and has two children.

The shooting incident comes 12 days after five people were killed and three injured in a similar firing by two people in north Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar. The accused also died in that incident.